“Oh, well, it pleases Gladys, and Iris adores it, and nobody’s any the worse. She doesn’t really like children, so she tries much harder with Iris than she needs to.” Barbara linked her arm through Janet’s. “Come and meet Daddy.”

The colonel was in the garden on the other side of the house. Barbara led the way through the hall and drawing-room, and out through the french windows. Janet had a fleeting impression of oak and what appeared to be family portraits, and a long, low, white drawing-room with leaf-green curtains and chair covers, and great bowls of flowers everywhere.

The colonel was bent over a border. He had a thin, intelligent face, iron-grey hair, and an air of distinction. He did not look up as the girls came towards him, but he evidently heard footsteps.

“Come here, Barbara. Look at that lupin, some damn thing’s been at it.”

“Well, leave it a minute, this is Janet Brain.”

The colonel straightened himself and Janet found he was over six foot. He held out his hand, and gave her a searching glance accompanied by a most charming smile.

“I beg your pardon, my dear, I thought Barbara was alone. So, you’re the friend she made on the train!”

Janet was not used to meeting colonels, in fact she could not remember meeting one before, but she felt entirely at ease with him.

“Wasn’t it queer we found we were going to the same place!”

“Very glad of it. Hope you two girls will be friends. Bit lonely for Barbara trading round after her old father. I’ve been laid up, you know, Miss Brain, can’t get used to bein’ an invalid. Never had a day’s illness in my life.”

“He’s worse than a child,” said Barbara. She pointed to a deck chair. “And where are you supposed to be now? Kennel, sir!”

The colonel smiled at Janet.

“You see, treats me like a dog!” He walked slowly towards his chair. “Do I hear you’re bear-leadin’ young Iris?”

“Unless she bear-leads me.”

“Shouldn’t wonder at that either. Her mother was a looker, with a will of her own, the child takes after her. We don’t see much of Sheldon these days; these farmers are busy, you know. Young Dick was our pal, and gave us all the news, didn’t he, Barbara? You haven’t met him, of course, he’s overseas.”

“No, I’ve heard of him.”

Barbara pushed her father into his chair, and put a cushion behind his back. She looked in a puzzled way at Janet.

“Funny, I thought you knew him, I can’t think why.”

The colonel glared at his daughter.